The Atlanta (Georgia) Campaign: May 1 - September 8, 1864., Part I: General Report.
Maj. George B. Davis, Mr. Leslie J. Perry, Mr. Joseph W. Kirkley, Ed.

Captain: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Sixteenth U. S. Infantry during the Atlanta campaign, 1864:

The command-consisting of the First Battalion, commanded by Captain Stanton, and the Second, Captain Barry-left Graysville, Ga., May 3, about 500 strong, all under command of Captain Stanton, and proceeded to Ringgold, Ga., leaving that place the 7th and marching to Buzzard Roost, Ga., where forty-five recruits and four officers joined us. Took part in the action of that place, losing only a few men.

On the 12th May we moved through Snake Creek Gap, and on the advance from there left the knapsacks of the men, an unfortunate act, as it was the cause of much future suffering from exposure by the men. Took part in the movements on Resaca May 14, 15, and 16, and on its evacuation marched to Kingston and thence to near Cassville, where we lay in camp three days. Here our wagons carrying the officers' baggage were taken away, reducing them for the rest of the campaign to the same condition as the men and entailing great misery. Here also three more officers joined us, among them Capt. E. Gay, who assumed command of the detachment; one officer also left us on detached service. On the 24th we crossed the Etowah River and moved through the Allatoona Mountain, meeting the enemy on the 27th at New Hope Church, where we acted as support to Wood's division. Evening prevented our being called into action, so we merely, with the rest of the brigade, covered the withdrawal of his troops and threw up works on the ground we held. The following day we lost heavily skirmishing with the enemy, and during the ten days operations at that point, in addition to much suffering from wet and exposure, lost many men in killed and wounded. On the night of the 29th May two companies, A (First) and C (Second), gallantly charged and took a hill in our front, which was then fortified by the Second, Eighteenth U. S. Infantry, Captain Fetterman. The rebels charged this position the 31st, and we aided the Second, Eighteenth, in repulsing them. The rebels having evacuated New Hope the 4th June, we lay in camp till the 9th, when we moved against them in their position at Lost Mountain, and on its evacuation took part in the operations against Kenesaw Mountain. On the evacuation of this point, July 3, we followed them closely, four companies supporting a section of artillery on the skirmish line. On the 4th of July we endured for several hours a severe cannonade, losing a number of men killed and wounded. On the 6th we reached the banks of the Chattahoochee and lay in camp till the 17th, here partially refitting and reclothing the command. Crossed the Chattahoochee the 17th. On the 22d, in conjunction with the brigade, acted as support for the division, suffering a demoralizing artillery fire and losing a number of men. On the 23d threw up works two and a half miles from Atlanta, where we lay till August 3, when we moved to the right and took position on Utoy Creek, August 6. Abandoned our works the ,night of the 26th of August, leaving out a skirmish line, and took part in the movement to Jonesborough, halting a day at Red Oak [576] and tearing up the Atlanta and West Point Railroad; thence we proceeded to Jonesborough, and, on the morning of the 1st, skirmished and drove the rebels, and later in the day took part in the gallant and successful assault on the enemy, losing 2 officers wounded; enlisted men, 2 killed, 29 wounded. From Jonesborough we returned to Atlanta the 8th of September and encamped.

The patience and cheerfulness with which the command endured the hardships, exposure, and sufferings of this long and weary campaign is deserving of all praise.

The total casualties of the campaign are: Killed-enlisted men, 17. Wounded-officers, 2; enlisted men, 93. Missing-enlisted men, 10. Total-officers, 2; enlisted men, 120.

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Captain: In giving an account of the part taken by the Sixteenth U. S. Infantry in the battle before Jonesborough, September 1, 1864, I have the honor to report that about 12 m. on the 1st instant the Sixteenth went out as skirmishers for the brigade, with instructions to press the enemy vigorously. Soon after deploying, the rebel skirmishers, supported by one piece of artillery, were met, but were steadily and rapidly driven for nearly two miles. On gaining the Atlanta and Macon Railroad the skirmish line halted; we were the first troops on the railroad. The battalion, being now relieved by the Third Brigade, formed in line of battle on the left of its own brigade. About 3 p. m. the line of battle advanced through a dense thicket, so dense as to be almost impassable for infantry, and finally emerged into a wide open field, on the opposite side of which, in the edge of the woods on the crest of a hill, lay the rebel line of battle behind temporary works thrown up by them. Halting a moment to breathe and reform, the battalion then pushed forward at a doublequick under a severe fire of the enemy. Holding its fire till near the enemy's line, the battalion closed on the enemy with a rush, driving them back into the woods. The position thus gained was held without flinching for over half an hour, the Sixteenth stubbornly clinging to its position even after the troops on its right had given way temporarily, repulsing also a charge then made by the enemy to dislodge it. About 5 p. m. a portion of Moore's (Third) brigade relieved us, when the battalion quietly reformed and marched in perfect order down the slope, forming line on the left of the brigade again. At dark we moved forward and threw up works on the right of Moore's brigade. The officers and men of this regiment deserve great praise. After a long march in the morning, they skirmished for several hours, driving the enemy miles, continually charging at a double-quick, then, without rest or food, forming line of battle and charging the enemy through a dense thicket and over a wide field, driving back the rebels and stubbornly holding the position thus gained, though without support part of the time either on right or left. All deserve praise, but it will not prove invidious to [577] others to particularize the conduct of Second Lieut. Charles W. Hotsenpiller, acting adjutant, who, both on the skirmish line and when in line of battle, did gallant duty with his former company, which was without an officer. I regret to add that shortly after driving the rebels from the woods, First Lieut. E. R. Kellogg, a most gallant and efficient officer, was badly wounded, and Lieut. E. McConnell slightly.

The officers engaged were Capts. S. S. Robinson and James Biddie, First Lieuts. L. S. Strickland, E. McConnell, E. R. Kellogg, F. H. Torbett, S. E. St. Onge, battalion quartermaster, and Second Lieut. C. W. Hotsenpiller, acting adjutant. The battalion carried 250 muskets into action and 9 officers, counting field and staff. The casualties were: Killed-privates, 2. Wounded-officers, 2; sergeants, 2; corporals, 1; privates, 26; total, 31. Aggregate, 33.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,